This blog highlights how applications built around DWF can do more than what can be done just using paper. The blog covers the building (architectural/electrical/construction), manufacturing, and infrastructure (e.g., GIS, telecommunications) industries.

July 12, 2010

Open DWF/DWFx Files in Google Chrome

From a browser perspective, for the longest time you were only able to view DWF/DWFx files in Microsoft Internet Explorer. Last year, we provided version 1.0 of the Firefox Add-on for Autodesk Design Review to enable this functionality in Mozilla Firefox.

Time marches on. The latest update to the Firefox add-on, version 1.1, and a minor Windows registry modification can enable Google Chrome to view DWF/DWFx files too.

First things first.

With recent versions of Firefox, Chrome, and Design Review (2009, 2010, or 2011) on your computer, download and install the Firefox Add-on for Autodesk Design Review version 1.1. (If you previously installed version 1.0 of the add-on, version 1.1 will update it automatically.)

Now for the registry tweak.

Open the Windows Registry Editor (regedit.exe).

Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.dwf.

In the Registry Editor's right pane, double-click Content Type. The Edit String dialog box opens and Model/vnd.dwf is shown in the Value Data text box.

Change the capital letter “M” in Model/vnd.dwf to a lowercase “m” so it looks like this model/vnd.dwf

Click OK to update the value.

Exit the Registry Editor.

You can now open DWF/DWFx files in Chrome either by dragging and dropping them into the browser or by opening HTML files with embedded DWF/DWFx files.

Let us know how it works for you!

Warning!Problems caused by improperly editing the Windows registry could render your computer operating system unusable. Microsoft has provided a wealth of critical information you need to know about the registry in the Microsoft Knowledge Base at http://support.microsoft.com/support.Use the Microsoft® Registry Editor only at your own risk and only after backing up the registry as well as the system.dat and user.dat files as outlined in ARTICLE-ID: Q132332 "How to Back Up the Registry" in the Microsoft Knowledge Base. Additional information about the registry is also contained in the Help topics in the Microsoft Registry Editor.

Just a clarification. I think the discrepancy of directory/file names in the registry may be because in the above case I was working with ADR 2008 on my Windows XP Pro SP3 Cooler Master workstation PC. I notice that on a new install of ADR (see below), your instructions are correct.

I also report that when I downloaded and installed the newest ADR to my Windows XP Home Acer Aspire One netbook,everything worked flawlessly. When IE loaded up a DWF from a webpage of mine, it worked fine (the user needs to know that the browser will alert for confirmation of ActiveX). The Firefox Add-on for Mozilla Firefox 3.6.8 loaded the DWF embedded in the webpage perfectly, and the Registry edit of Content Type also caused Google Chrome browser to work fine.

Thanks to everyone at Autodesk and you blokes on this blog for providing exactly what we all want. At least that is my opinion.

By the way, I just loaded Safari 5.0.1 (7533.17.8) and by Jove, without downloading and installing any plug-ins or add-ons, Safari displays the DWF fine when I load up the web page (that web page has the HTML code included to enable Google Chrome to display the DWF). So something is working for Safari and I reckon it is that snippet.

BUT ... big BUTT here ... while the page is displayed in Safari, and you click on the X in the top right of the window to close the browser, it crashes.

I am submitting a bug report to Apple about that, but you blokes might want to know this too ... Maybe.